instruTECHable
SCS Instructional Technology Newsletter - Issue #1 (21/22)
To EMPOWER Learning Through Supporting INFRASTRUCTURE, ENGAGEMENT, & INNOVATION
Newsletter Headlines
- Busy Summer for IT
- New Tech Helpdesk for Staff
- Classroom Gadget Bags
- Student Chromebooks and Loaners
- A MUST-READ: MUSTANG UNIVERSITY for Professional Learning Opportunities
- Learn About Our New Chromebook Management System for Teachers - BLOCKSI
- A QuickStart Guide to Performance Matters
- Relaunch of Strongnet.org
Aligned Focus + New Positions = Busy Summer + Impactful Changes
The Technology Department also had some personnel changes this summer. Clarence Drope was promoted from Temporary AV/IT Field Tech to AV/IT Field Tech. His expertise and problem-solving skills have been greatly appreciated throughout the district. We wished Rich Miltner a happy retirement in July. New, and more significantly more, Tech Coaches were hired. (See image below.)
As the school year begins, please be patient as we are one team member down and responsibilities are being shared.
New Tech Help Desk for Staff
Classroom Gadget Bags
Chromebooks, Chromebooks, and more Chromebooks.
With our orders finally being delivered from last year, we are once again one to one as a district. Our K-2 students have Chromebooks in their classroom carts and our 3-12 students are taking their Chromebooks home nightly. As the Chromebook distribution and constant roster changes provide challenges to the Tech Team, please be patient with us as we are ensuring all students will have a device as soon as possible. We did have a minor setback with our ITC this summer in registering the Chromebooks to our students in Grades 3-8. There may be a time where Tech asks for your assistance in finishing this process.
If students are having issues with their Chromebooks, please review our Troubleshoot Guide. Many issues can be fixed with a three-point shutdown or hard reset. If a student's device is not fixed by these quick fixes, please utilize the system in place in your building to submit a Chromebook to a Tech and receive a loaner.
- Elementary - Use the Tech Trouble Tickets, like last year, and a loaner will be provided as soon as possible.
- SMS & SHS - Have students go to the Media Center and fill out a Tech Trouble Ticket to receive a loaner.
- SOLO Academy students need to submit a Tech Trouble Ticket using this form.
MUSTANG UNIVERSITY for Professional Learning Opportunities
Mustang University is your digital resource for instructional growth through the integration of technology. Our goal is to provide asynchronous and self-paced professional learning opportunities on our fundamental programs and other programs supported in our Learning Ecosystem. Mustang University is not going to replace live professional development but to supplement it.
Fundamental Programs include Google WorkSpace, PowerSchool, Google Classroom, Blocksi, Screencastify, Kami, and Pear Deck.
GAIN KNOWLEDGE, CREATE ENGAGING LESSONS, REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCES, AND CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT WITH BADGES!
Learn new skills with Mustang University and earn digital badges to show your growth. Each learning opportunity is design into three components;
• Acquisition of knowledge/skill
• Creation of a product to use with your students
• Reflection on the experience(s)
NEED A REFRESHER ON HOW TO DO SOMETHING?
Step-by-Step Skill Tutorials are available for each program.
EARN GRADUATE CREDIT!
Earn 1 Graduate Credit with Mustang University and Baldwin Wallace University by completing our SCS Learning Ecosystem's Fundamental Software Level 1 Skills professional learning course. More information about this next week.
The Reflections and Technical Quizzes are currently unavailable due to the submission date requirements of assignments with Baldwin Wallace University.
BLOCKSI - Our New Chromebook Management System for Teachers
Blocksi is our new classroom management system for Chromebooks. It features a teacher dashboard to observe and control student behaviours of interest. Teachers can not only see what tabs a student has open, but close unwanted tabs, force a desired website out to the class, or lockdown the browser for assessments. To learn more about what are the fundamental skills of Blocksi with tutorials on how to link it to your Google Classroom and how to use it, visit the Blocksi Certified Badge page on Mustang U website.
Performance Matters
On the optional Professional Development days, Dave presented A Performance Matters QuickStart For Teachers. This presentation provides a low-level entry into Performance Matters. No need to recreate the assessment wheel now. Performance Matters allows you to conduct "hybrid testing". Hybrid Testing allows you to use an assessment you already made (in paper or PDF form) and utilize Performance Matters as your digital answer sheet (DAKO) to collect student responses. With a little practice, you can learn to create a 3-10 question DAKO assessment in less than 5 minutes and release it to your students!
More sessions over Performance Matters will occur throughout the year and if you (and or your team/department) are interested in learning more, contact Dave.
Relaunch of Strongnet.org
Department of Instructional Technology
Email: dbinkley@scsmustangs.org
Website: www.strongnet.org
Location: 18199 Cook Avenue, Strongsville, OH, USA
Twitter: @Coach_Bink